Start playing
Returning to tennis or new to tennis and aged over 30?
Recreational play and coaching
The idea of starting or returning to tennis as a senior player can seem daunting. However many who take the first steps find it hugely rewarding and less difficult than expected.
You do not have to be a member of a tennis club to start playing or competing. Many LTA registered venues (including clubs, parks and educational establishments) enable their tennis courts to be booked online.
Find and book a court near you
Most LTA registered venues offer the opportunity to book individual or group coaching sessions for all playing standards. Alternatively you can use our find a Tennis coach facility to locate a tennis coach near you.
First steps in competition
Many venues offer friendly competition for singles and doubles via Local Tennis Leagues. Click the button below to find your nearest league:
LTA Registered venues will offer the opportunity to compete in friendly competitions amongst the membership including club championships and box leagues. There will also be the opportunity to compete against other venues in the locality through County and District Leagues.
Seniors tournaments
Seniors tennis competitions are open to all levels of players aged 30 & over - so whether you are a seasoned regular or new to competing, there's something for everyone!
Competitions run in five-year age gaps and players first become eligible to compete when they are in their 30th year. After that you can move upwards through the five-year age groups, always from the year in which you attain your new age. There are formal competitions you can compete in right up to the 90+ age group.
Please see below for further information on how to get started with Seniors Tennis competitions:
No - any player can enter. Should you wish to start competing it is helpful to obtain an ITF World Tennis Number.
In the event of a tournament being oversubscribed, players with the lowest ranking or World Tennis Number could be placed on a wait list pending any vacancies arising. Tournaments are graded to indicate the level of players that they expect to attract. If you are new to seniors tennis it is advisable to start playing at a lower level tournament. The highest level tournaments are classified as Grade 1 events by the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) or ITF MT1000 by the ITF (International Tennis Federation). Lower level tournaments start at LTA Grade 7 or ITF MT100.
Want to learn more about individual competitions? Our Seniors Tennis individual competitions page below has all the key info on how you can get involved.
To learn more about team competitions, visit our Seniors Tennis team competitions page below: